MEET THE NEW BISHOP March 27, 2007

“Cardinal, how much oil will you put on his head?” This is the question immediately asked by Fr. Atilano Corcuera, SVD, the Rector of the Divine Word Shrine to Cardinal Rosales upon the latter’s arrival for the Episcopal ordination of Fr. Leopoldo “Pol” Jaucian, SVD. The Cardinal was quick to reply with a smile, “It depends. How many gallons of oil do you have?” There was laughter in the Mission Office.

As early as six in the morning, ushers, guests, parishioners, priests, and presidential securities have been waiting for the start of the Episcopal ordination. Ah, for the mean time, they were enjoying the sight of 36 bishops at the front of Mission Office. It was a sight to behold.

Outside Christ the King compound, traffic was building up in E. Rodriguez, Morato and even New Manila. Even the Cardinal was not spared from the traffic. There were so many people wanting to get in to catch a glimpse of the celebration.

Then, the celebration began. There was Fr. Pol escorted by the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Fernando Filoni and Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales. There was a loud roar of flaglets and clapping of hands as he entered the Shrine. Our new bishop looked very serene and he was all smiling as he walked through the aisles.

The Cardinal enumerated in his homily the functions of the bishops and encouraged the faithful to pray for the newly-ordained bishop. Bishop Pol on the other hand, also expressed that his favorite song when he was still a priest was “The Lord Hears the Cry of the Poor.” Now that he is already a bishop, his favorite song changed. It is now “Strong and Constant.” This is also very much related to his motto: “Remain in Me” (John 15:4).

These are just some of the highlights of the celebration. People of God, meet the new bishop!

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Greetings from Verbum SVD House of Studies!!! I am Fr. Felmar Castrodes Fiel, SVD - a religious missionary priest studying Development Communications at the University of the Philippines - Baňos, Laguna.